Trump’s team has yet to sign power transition agreements, the White House says

The The Trump-Vance Transition Team has not yet signed the necessary documents to officially begin the transition to power, the White House says.

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday that “Our teams continue to stay in touch” and “at this time … the Trump-Vance transition team has not yet finalized agreements with White house and the General Services Administration (GSA).”

Not signing the documents means the government can’t provide security clearances and briefings to administration officials, and the FBI can’t vet Trump’s picks for Cabinet and other key posts. The agreements also provide for “office space, IT equipment, office supplies, fleet vehicles, mail handling, and payment of compensation and other expenses,” according to GSA.

“President Biden met with the president-elect to show that the transition of power and obviously providing whatever assistance is necessary to ensure that this happens in a peaceful, obvious and effective way,” according to Jean-Pierre.

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President Joe Biden met with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on November 13. (AP/Evan Vucci)

“So we were going to continue to engage with Trump’s transition teamto make sure that we have that efficient, effective transition of power,” she added. “And in those conversations, we certainly emphasize that the White House and the administration are prepared to provide assistance and that access to services and information certainly presented. in the GSA and in the White House MOU. So those conversations continue. And we want that to go smoothly, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve.”

The continued delay in agreeing to begin the formal transition process may ultimately force senators to vote on Trump’s cabinet picks without benefit of the usual background checks, the Associated Press reported.

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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily briefing at the White House on Thursday, November 21. She said the Trump-Vance transition team has yet to sign documents that can officially begin the transition of power. (AP/Ben Curtis)

This process is designed to uncover personal issues, criminal histories and other potential red flags that would raise questions about a candidate’s suitability for key jobs.

It is not clear why the documents have not yet been signed.

President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP/Evan Vucci)

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Transition spokesman Brian Hughes said earlier this month that the team’s “lawyers continue to engage constructively with” lawyers and officials from President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration and promised updates “once a decision is made “.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.